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News and Reviews on the World of OpticsFri, 17 May 2019 09:32:51 +0000en-US
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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.1Astrophotography with Binoculars & a Phonehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BinocularsNewsReviews/~3/UZkX2hOzRfo/
Fri, 17 May 2019 08:17:01 +0000https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/?p=5281Not only are the right binoculars great for astronomy, but did you know you can use binoculars to take incredible photos of the moon, planets and even distant galaxies and just by using your phone as well! In this article, I will show you that Astrophotography with Binoculars and a phone is not only possible […]

Not only are the right binoculars great for astronomy, but did you know you can use binoculars to take incredible photos of the moon, planets and even distant galaxies and just by using your phone as well!

In this article, I will show you that Astrophotography with Binoculars and a phone is not only possible but with a little bit of know-how, a free mobile app, some free software, and the right equipment is relatively easy to do and cheap to get started:

Photographing the Moon with a Phone and Binoculars

Most people just starting out using binoculars for astrophotography, begin so by snapping the moon.

This is the obvious choice and for good reason, as the moon is large, well lit and thus easy to locate in the night sky and also fairly easy to photograph.

Whilst far from ideal, I have even managed to take have half decent photos of the moon by simply lining up the camera on my phone with the eyepiece without the steadying influences from a tripod and smartphone adapter.

However, to get the best results, you should definitely have your binoculars mounted onto a tripod and the phone attached to the eyepiece via an adapter. For more on what else you need, take a look at the bottom of this article.

This incredible photo of the Andromeda galaxy photo was taken with a pair of 7x50 binoculars and a mobile phone by Astrobiscuit (Rory) – see video below:

Can you take Photos of Deep Space using Binoculars and a Phone?

How does taking photos of something that is 2.5million light-years away with just your binoculars and a mobile phone sound?

Many would think this is not possible and even if it was, the results would be terrible.

Well, believe it or not, the photo above of the Andromeda galaxy was taken using just a pair of low powered 7x50 binoculars and a mobile phone!

To find out how it was achieved, I highly recommend taking a look at this excellent video by Astrobiscuit on YouTube. In it, he goes into great detail explaining what he used and how and it shows you just what is possible using a cheap pair of 7x50 binoculars, a tripod, a mobile phone and a bunch of software:

Which Binoculars are best for Astrophotography?

What I also like about the video above is that it demonstrates that you don’t need to spend a fortune and you also don’t need a very high powered binocular for Astrophotography:

MagnificationMost people will assume that for taking photos of the stars with a phone and a binocular you need a very high magnification, but this is not always the best option.

Sure you will get more image detail, but unless you also get one with really large objectives, they will not be able to collect enough light in order to create a good photograph.

Objective Lens Size In general, the larger the objective lenses you use the better. But going really big makes your setup far less portable and thus more difficult to use and also increases the cost.

What size you need depends is related to how powerful a magnification you choose. The higher the power, the larger the lenses you will need to ensure a bright image.

Any higher than 10x and I would suggest opting for astronomy specific binoculars with 70, 80 or even 100mm objectives. More Info: Binoculars for Astronomy

BudgetAs always, I recommend that you spend as much as you can easily afford.

In his video, Astrobiscuit buys a very cheap second-hand pair on eBay. Personally, I would shy away from using very cheap binoculars if possible as I am sure he would have got even better results had he used a higher quality 7x50 binocular.

This is because binoculars using higher quality glass and coatings will not only transmit more light which is critical, but they will also create clearer, sharper images by reducing things like chromatic aberrations, the cause color fringing that you often see on the edges of magnified photos.

Tripod AdpatableTo make sure you are able to create the best possible astrophotographs, it is essential that you fix your binoculars to a tripod and to ensure this is very easy, make certain that you choose binoculars that are tripod adaptable if you are buying a pair.

By this, I mean the dust cap located on the front face of the central hinge on your binoculars should be unscrewable. The in its place you can simply screw ina standard tripod adapter – more on this below:

What Else Do You Need?

As well as the right pair of binoculars and your mobile phone, you will need the following:

A Tripod & Tripod HeadTo get good quality photos, it is imperative that the binoculars and the phone are kept completely still. So fixing them onto a tripod is a must.

Here I wouldn’t go for the cheapest options as they are often flimsy and so won’t keep your setup completely still.

Which type and quality of tripod head you use is also important as it can either make aiming your binocular a breeze or a complete nightmare.

I use the Vanguard ABEO Pro 283CGH Tripod Kit, which consists of Vanguard Abeo Pro 283CT tripod and the excellent Vanguard GH-300T Pistol Grip ball head. Both of which I can highly recommend.

Unless you have a large pair of binoculars specifically designed for astronomy, some of which come with a built-in tripod adapter on a bar, you will need an adapter to fix your binocular onto the tripod.

In most cases, this is very easy to do and the adapters are relatively inexpensive. For more, take a look at my guide to Binocular Tripod Adapters.

A Digibinning Adapter

To attach your phone onto the eyepiece of your binocular you will need a Smartphone Adapter.

There are some great ones about and I have tested a number of them. The ones that I have tested and which I highly recommend are below:

Phone AppTo help with aiming, I highly recommend the SkyView Free app. Not only have I found it to be very accurate and easy to use, but as the name suggests it is completely free!

Other Software

If you want to create great photos of distant objects deep in space that are relatively dim, you could use long exposures, but this can result in a blur or star trail in the photo caused by the rotation of the earth causing the stars to move in the sky.

Timed correctly with very long exposures, this can create a really nice effect.

But if you want sharp images, you need to take many photographs and then stack them all on top of each other as Astrobiscuit shows you how to do in his video above.

Also, take a look at Astro Pixel Processor, a Deep Sky Image Processing application, it enables you to do cool things like removing light pollution from your astrophotos. Whilst not free, there is a 30-day trial for you to test the software first.

]]>https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/astrophotography-with-binoculars-a-phone-05/How to Choose Binocularshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BinocularsNewsReviews/~3/aOX9dsQwU3U/
Sun, 05 May 2019 07:42:08 +0000https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/?p=5221Separating Real Features from Marketing Hype With such a huge amount and variety of brands, sizes, and prices it can get more than a little overwhelming when trying to make a shortlist, nevermind actually choose your binoculars and this is made even the more difficult with all the marketing jargon and the fact that each […]

Separating Real Features from Marketing Hype

With such a huge amount and variety of brands, sizes, and prices it can get more than a little overwhelming when trying to make a shortlist, nevermind actually choose your binoculars and this is made even the more difficult with all the marketing jargon and the fact that each manufacturer will highlight what they think their products best features are (often using deliberately confusing or ambiguous terms) and try and keep you from discovering their worst!

In this guide, I will show you How to Choose Binoculars, by cutting through the jargon and making sure you pick the one that has the important features and components, whilst avoiding the ones that are merely marketing gobbledegook!

Please note that I have already written a very detailed guide on what to look for in good binoculars which focuses more on the important technical aspects to know when choosing binoculars and so I highly recommend that you take some time to go through it as well as this one to be sure that you choose the right binoculars for your needs.

In this article, I will be focusing on the basic, but important features to look out for on a binocular, the ones to avoid and how to separate essential information from marketing gibberish.

So once you have made certain that your instrument has all these core features, then you can drill down further.

Important Features

No matter if you are wanting your binoculars for bird watching, wildlife observation, traveling, sailing, hunting, astronomy or just about any other use you can think of, there are certain important features and components that really work and all good binoculars need or should have in order for them to perform at their best and which depending on which price range you choose, you need to look out for and make sure your final choice has:

Fully Multi-Coated Athlon Midas Binoculars

Anti-Reflection Coatings

Applied to some or all of the lens surfaces throughout the binocular, anti-reflection (AR) coatings are extremely important as they can and do make a noticeable difference to both the quality and brightness of the final image.

However, not all AR coatings are created equal and on top of this, different instruments will have different levels of AR coatings applied to some or all of their lenses.

As it is often a brand’s secret sauce and a closely guarded secret, the exact materials they use is never completely divulged, so here we generally cannot know for certain as to whether a particular brand’s “Super Special®” AR lens coatings are superior to another’s brands “Mega Magic” AR coatings.

What name or catchphrase they use to describe their coatings is usually marketing gobbledygook, but what is important is to take note of is how much and how many of the lenses in the binocular have been treated and here the exact wording is very important:

What you need to look out for and what is ideal is binocular that is described as being Fully Multi-Coated. This indicates that all lens surfaces throughout the whole system have multiple layers of an AR coating applied to them and unless you are knowingly buying a very cheap pair (please don’t), all good binoculars will be fully multi-coated.

Far less effective are instruments that are only Multi-Coated(only some lenses are multi-coated), Fully Coated (all lenses are coated but with only a single layer) or even just Coated(only some lenses are coated and with only a single layer).

If you are buying a cheap/low-cost pair and there is no mention of the level of coatings, assume that they are NOT fully multi-coated otherwise they would highlight the fact.

Fog & Water Protection

Before going into what you need to look for, I’ll start this section on stating that whilst it may not seem obvious why, especially if you never go out in the rain, knowing if the binoculars are fully sealed and thus both fog and waterproof is a really an important aspect in how to choose a pair of binoculars for a number of reasons:

Firstly it is a definite and very strong indicator of quality. These days there are very few unsealed and thus unprotected instruments that are worth looking at as the rest of the components and the build quality will most certainly be very poor.

Waterproofing is Not only for the RainNext, to make a binocular waterproof, it has to be completely sealed and impervious to water (usually rated to a certain depth). But remember that as well as being impervious to water, these o-ring seals will also prevent dust from getting inside the system in dry conditions and when you store your binocular which is also very important.

Also FogproofWhen choosing your binoculars make sure that is it is also fogproof. Firstly this makes sure the waterproofing claim is true as the seals need to be completely airtight as well as watertight.

This is because, in order to protect the lenses from fogging, the air inside the binocular is replaced with a completely moistureless gas (usually nitrogen or argon) which is what prevents the internal glass surfaces from misting or fogging up, which can happen very easily to unprotected devices.

Exact Wording is ImportantBe aware that some binoculars will be described as being “Weather Protected” or “Weather-Resistant“. This is not good enough as it means that the seals are not airtight and thus they a most certainly not fog proof.

Prism Glass

Look for the words BaK-4 and avoid BK-7 glass. There are other types of glass used to make the prisms in binoculars, but these are the most common.

Whilst it is true that not all BaK-4 glass is made equal and there are some applications where the cheaper BK-7 glass is preferred to BaK-4, this is almost never the case on binoculars and ones that use BK-7 are almost certainly going to be inferior to a similarly priced instrument with BaK-4 glass. More: BaK-4 & BK7 Prisms.

Roof Prism Coatings

Not necessary on a Porro prism instrument, but If you are choosing a roof prism binocular, they MUST have mirror coatings on the prism and unless your budget is very low, you really should ensure that they are also phase corrected.

Note: If you are not sure of the difference between roof and Porro prism binoculars, take a look at my guide to the Different Types of Binoculars.

Here there are different levels and which you should look out for will depend on your budget:

The best roof prism binoculars have dielectric coated prisms, whilst at the mid and even low-cost price levels, you should be looking out for silver mirror coatings.

These days I would try to avoid aluminum coated roof prism binoculars as you can find cheap roof prism binoculars with silver coatings if you know where to look: Best Binoculars Under $100 (£/€)

Complete Marketing Hype & Gobbledygook!

Gold or Ruby Lens Coatings

Many very cheap binoculars will have red tinted objective lenses, which the manufacturer will highlight with terms like “special ruby coated lenses”.

In most cases and the best scenario is that they are just window dressing and do nothing at all, however, in some cases they filter or emphasize a specific color of the spectrum to compensate for the poor performance of their sub-standard optics. More info: Ruby Coated Binoculars

Exceptions to the Rule:

Steiner Predator BinocularsThere are however a few exceptions. For example, Steiner Optics has an excellent of range of instruments specifically designed for hunting where the lenses have been tinted so that they filter out greens and emphasize red, orange and brown colors in the view so that many species of wildlife stand out from the environment and are thus easier to spot.

Before trying them out I was highly skeptical and although I am not a hunter, I did take a pair with me on safari and I can say that whilst the effect is subtle, it really does work: For more take a look at my Steiner Predator AF 8x30 Binoculars Review.

AutoBright Lens Coatings on the 10x26 Steiner BluHorizons Binoculars

Steiner AutoBright Lens CoatingsAnother exception and another series from Steiner are their compact BluHorizons Binoculars that have photosensitive coatings on the lenses that are colored blue. Like some types of eyeglasses, they react to how bright it is and thus can either let in more light or reduce the amount to reduce glare in very bright light. More: Steiner BluHorizons 10x26 Binoculars Review.

Day & Night Binoculars

No matter what the manufacturer’s description and title say on Amazon, eBay or AliExpress, there is no such thing as a cheap day and night vision binocular, especially a compact one that will work anything like you hope it will. Period! Do Not Go there and do NOT choose something like these Night Hero Binoculars:

Zoom Binoculars

There are only a very few exceptions to this and only then are they useful in a small number of applications. But in general, avoid binoculars that have variable magnification, especially those that are cheap. Usually described as zoom binoculars, they are terrible and will most likely make a very bad choice.

]]>https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/how-to-choose-binoculars-05/Night Hero Binoculars Reviewhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BinocularsNewsReviews/~3/W4scm1Uxpbk/
Fri, 26 Apr 2019 13:17:44 +0000https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/?p=5160BBR YouTube Version of this Night Hero Binoculars Review I was recently sent in a question from a reader asking me what I thought about the “As Seen on TV” Atomic Beam Night Hero Binoculars. At only around $33, they were being advertised as a pair of “Amazing Night Vision Binoculars” that can also be […]

I was recently sent in a question from a reader asking me what I thought about the “As Seen on TV” Atomic Beam Night Hero Binoculars.

At only around $33, they were being advertised as a pair of “Amazing Night Vision Binoculars” that can also be used during the day and my reader wanted to know if you can actually use them to see at night and did I think they should get a pair?

I was really busy at the time and because I have seen many very cheap binoculars similar to the Night Hero that promise you that they can the ultimate day & night instrument, I initially started my reply thinking I would just give them a really short answer that would get directly to the point:

What I think About the Night Hero Binoculars from Atomic Beam: At best it is nothing more than a cheap binocular with a laser pointer attached to it that should be avoided.

Can you use them to see at night: No.

Should you buy them: No, most definitely do not buy them!

I almost hit send… but then I thought, perhaps I was being a little too hasty and as I had not even used or seen them, perhaps I should do a little research first as just maybe someone had cracked the code on how to make the most incredible night vision device for under $50! So I did…

What The Night Hero Claims:

As seen on TV Night Hero binocularsNote: I wanted to include the excellent promotional video created by BulbHead in this review, but unfortunately for some reason, it is not on YouTube, so I can’t embed it. But you can check it out on the Amazon.com Listing of the product Here.

Hunter Ellis: FMR Fighter PilotIf you do get watch the promotional video for the Night Hero binocular by Atomic Beam, you get a very polished presentation from none other than Hunter Ellis, FMR Fighter Pilot.

Wow, that sounds impressive! But I did wonder what an FMR Fighter Pilot is, so I did some research… nothing! Then it dawned on me, it stands for former! Why they could not have just written that? I guess the FMR in capitals looks even cooler than just your average fighter pilot!

Anyway for those who are wondering, yes, Hunter Ellis is a former Navy pilot, turned into a television personality.

Night Time CapabilityAnyway I digress, but in his impressive presentation (conducted at night) of the Night Hero binoculars he starts by making the following claim:

“These binoculars let you see anything, even in pitch black darkness”

And then just to emphasize just how good they are, they use the following image:

Wolf at Night – Night Vision example by Night Hero

Apparently, the secret to this incredible ability is the “powerful wide-angle Atomic Beam laser” that has a range of 150-yards.

What is more, during the day, the 10x power is perfect for watching live action sports as well as sightseeing and apparently if you like bird watching, they are a must!

Then as the sun sets, all you need to do is press the night vision button to see clearly in the dark!

The presentation continues, but I think you get the picture. According to BulbHead and Hunter Ellis, these things are incredible and at such a cheap price, why wouldn’t you want to buy them? Well…

What the Night Hero Actually Does:

Night Hero Binoculars

How the Night Hero Binocular Works

If we cut to the chase, basically the Night Hero is just a standard 10x30 roof prism binocular with a green laser pointer bolted onto it. Nothing more!

So during the day, these will work just like any other standard, but cheap binocular. If you want to know more, take a look at my complete guide to How Binoculars Work.

Atomic Beam Laser For night time use, let us take a look at the secret sauce on these “night vision binoculars” and that is what they describe as the “Powerful Wide Angle Atomic Beam Laser”.

This laser emitter simply acts like a torch (but not a very good one) by lighting up an area in front of you, which then helps you to “see in the dark”

Except you are not really seeing in the dark. You are seeing because the view has been illuminated by a green laser light!

A simple, but powerful torch beam would certainly be more effective than this. But hey, this would not look cool!

Night Vision Laser on the Night Hero Binocular

Green LightThe fact that the light is green is good for marketing as it resembles the green image that we have become accustomed to seeing when we see night vision footage on the TV. However, in this case, it is not caused by a green laser, rather it is green because those devices have a special phosphor screen in them that is used to project an image created by the collected light that has been converted into electrons and them amplified.

I think another source of confusion here is that many Real Night Vision Devices (see below) use an infrared illuminator to provide light for the device to work when there is not enough ambient light from sources like the stars or the moon.

The difference here is infrared is invisible to the naked eye, yet the Night Vision Binocular is able to use that light just like a torch and completely light up the scene, even in total darkness.

10x30mm ConfigurationIf you want a binocular that performs well in low light, you need large lenses. Just like the windows in your house, larger lenses can collect and let in more light and smaller ones.

Standard day-time binoculars with an average low light ability have 42mm lenses, whilst binoculars specifically designed to work well in low light have much larger than this. For example, the excellent Steiner Nighthunter 8x56 Binoculars use large 56mm lenses.

Going even further, on binoculars for astronomy, the lenses are often between 70mm and 100mm in diameter which helps them collect as much of the available light as possible.

So at 30mm, I would say that these are most certainly not ideal for low light, never mind night time use.

So these lenses working in combination with the green laser, I can guarantee that there is no way you will be able to achieve the level of clarity and brightness at night time as what they suggest is possible on their publicity images and videos.

How Real Night Vision Works

To get a real working night vision device that doesn’t simply use a laser to visibly light up the area in front of you like a torch there are three main options available for civilians on the market.

Phosphor Screen Night Vision Binoculars, Monoculars & ScopesFirst, you get the traditional devices that collect the available light in the form of photons, these are then converted into electrons, amplified and projected onto a phosphor screen to create an image.

BTW: The reason the view is green on these NV devices is that the phosphor used for the screen is green and not because your view has been illuminated by a cheap green laser pointer!

Digital Night Vision BinocularsThe second and generally cheaper option is to use a Digital Night Vision Device. The advantage here is that not only is it often less expensive than the phosphor screen devices, but it makes it much easier to record what you are looking at.

Thermal Night VisionAnother method is by using heat detection to make an image. Know as thermal imaging, they work best when viewing objects that are drastically different in temperature to their surroundings, like animals and people and which is why they are popular with the military, security services, and hunters. For an example check out what I think is the Best Thermal Monocular for Hunting Under $600, the excellent FLIR Scout.

Thermal Night Vision

CostWhilst you will need to spend a little more than the $33 it costs to buy the Night Hero, you don’t have to break the bank, especially now that digital night vision has really brought the price down and the advantage is that it will actually work!

Not Just Me

So there you have it! Honestly, these Atomic Bean Night Hero Binoculars are nothing more than a con.

If you want a really cheap pair for binoculars with a laser pointer strapped to them, then, by all means, get them.

However, you will see much better in the dark with a bright torch strapped to the front of a good pair of binoculars with large lenses.

No hands-On Review?Now I know there may be some of you out there thinking, “Hold on a minute, this guy has not even tried them, how does he know they don’t work”.

Believe you me, I wanted to give them a try, but unfortunately, they seem to be only available in North America and I cannot source a pair on this side of the pond.

However fear not, I am not the only one saying this. Thankfully there are many others out there and whilst they may not know as much as I do about binoculars, they don’t need to! This is because as soon as they try them at night, they come to the same conclusion:

Further Reading

]]>https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/night-hero-binoculars-review-04/Top 3 Mistakes Binocular Beginners Make & How to Avoid Themhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BinocularsNewsReviews/~3/gMDu7ASdyQ8/
Thu, 18 Apr 2019 13:33:52 +0000https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/?p=5112In this article, I’m going to show you the Top 3 Mistakes I see Binocular Beginners make and how you can Avoid them. I guess there may be some people who have held their binoculars upside down (like in the title image above) or around the wrong way and looked through the objective lenses instead […]

In this article, I’m going to show you the Top 3 Mistakes I see Binocular Beginners make and how you can Avoid them.

I guess there may be some people who have held their binoculars upside down (like in the title image above) or around the wrong way and looked through the objective lenses instead of the eyepieces, but I am also quite sure that they would have been able to correct these errors without needing my advice… I hope!

So instead, I wanted to go over a few of the less obvious mistakes that just about anyone could make and often do.

The problem with these errors is that unless somebody points them out, they will probably continue to make them and just blame the poor view or difficulty in using the instrument on a bad pair of binoculars.

1. Incorrect Eye-Cup Settings

First on my list and a very common binocular mistake that I see is the incorrect use of the eyecups and in particular the twist-up style.

When you take your new binoculars out of the box, the eye-cups will be retracted and many people either do not know that they are supposed to or indeed if they can be twisted-up.

Eye-cups are related to eye-relief and are not only there to make the binocular more comfortable to use, but are specifically designed to make sure your eyes sit at the correct distance behind the ocular lenses, with or without glasses on.

Getting this setting wrong will probably result in you seeing black rings around the edges of the view, or make it look like you are looking down a long tube with a dark ring all the way around the view and thus severely restrict your field of view and overall view quality.

In general, manufacturers design their cups to be set to the fully extended position if you don’t wear glasses.

If you do wear glasses you should retract the eye-cups. This is because your glasses will take up some if not all of the space that is usually occupied by the extended eyecups and thus you no longer need them.

Now, everyone has different shaped faces and thicknesses of glasses (if you wear them) and so that is why the best eye-cups have multi-position click stops allowing you to position and customize them to match your particular requirements.

2. Incorrect Diopter Settings

Usually located near the right eyepiece (but not always – ree image on the right), the role of the diopter adjustment ring is to allow for any differences between the vision of your left and right eyes as many people can have one eye that is significantly weaker or stronger than the other.

Thus a correctly calibrated diopter makes sure that when you try and focus on an object, both the left and right sides of the binocular come into focus at the same point.

It is very important to get this right, yet despite this, there are many people out there using binoculars that don’t know how to use the diopter or in some cases don’t even know that it is there.

Depending on your eyesight, this can make the difference between being able to achieve a sharp, clear sharp image or a blurry one.

In fact, if the setting is a long way out, the effect of having one side in focus and the other out of focus can actually give you a headache or make you feel nauseous if you use an incorrectly calibrated binocular for long periods of time.

How to correctly set the diopter

Setting the diopter will depend on the exact type and location of it. The following articles go into detail on how to correctly set-up the diopter on your binoculars. In them, I also go through all the different types and locations of diopters that you commonly find on binoculars:

3. Incorrect Aiming

People who don’t use binoculars very often will often bring the binocular up to their face and only then with they try and look for the subject that they want to observe.

The added magnification and the resulting reduced field of view can make it quite disorientating and thus quite difficult to locate and lock onto your subject. This is especially true if you have a high powered binocular, your subject is small, at reasonably close range and fast moving. So a bird in a nearby bush would be a good example.

The correct way to aim your binoculars is to firstly look at your subject without your binoculars and then bring them up to your eyes without moving your head. This makes it much easier to find your subject in the view.

]]>https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/top-3-mistakes-binocular-beginners-make-how-to-avoid-them-04/How Binoculars Workhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BinocularsNewsReviews/~3/-T8eima7rC0/
Fri, 12 Apr 2019 16:59:58 +0000https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/?p=5024Whilst you don’t need to become an expert, I always find that I am able to get the most out of something if I have at least a basic understanding of how it functions. So how do binoculars work? In this comprehensive guide, I will go over the science behind how the optics in a […]

]]>Whilst you don’t need to become an expert, I always find that I am able to get the most out of something if I have at least a basic understanding of how it functions.
Light Traveling through a pair of Steiner porro prism binoculars

So how do binoculars work?In this comprehensive guide, I will go over the science behind how the optics in a pair of binoculars are able to collect light and then present you with a magnified image of the view in front of you. In future articles, I also plan to go over the main mechanics behind how the focus and eye-cup mechanisms work and the range of different options available.

In this way, I am certain that by the end of it you will understand how binoculars work and thus be far better prepared when choosing the right instrument for your needs and then once it arrives, be able to correctly set it up and use it so that you get the best out of using it. Let us begin:

Lenses and Abbe-Koenig prisms in a pair of Nikon WX Binoculars

Two Telescopes

At it’s simplest form, a set of binoculars is essentially made up of two telescopes placed side-by-side. So to start with and to make things a little simpler, let us cut our binocular in half and first learn how a telescope works and then we will put them back together at the end:

Lenses, Light & Refraction

Fundamentally how binoculars work and magnify a view is by using lenses that causes light to do something known as refraction:

Through the vacuum of space, light travels in a straight line, but as it passes through different materials it changes speed.

So as light passes through a thick medium like glass or water, it slows down. This generally causes the light waves to bend and it is this bending of light that is called refraction. Light refraction is what causes a straw to look like it is bent when it is in a glass of water. it also has many useful purposes and is the key being able to magnify what you are looking at.

Lenses

Rather than just using a simple flat sheet or block of glass, instruments like telescopes, binoculars and even reading glasses use specially shaped glass lenses that are often made up from a number of individual lens elements that better able to control the bending of the light waves.

The objective lens (the one closest to the object you are looking at) on a binocular is Convex in shape, meaning that the centre of it is thicker than the outside. Known as a converging lens, it catches the light from a distant object and then through refraction, it causes the light to bend and come together (converge) as it passes through the glass. the lightwaves then focus at a point behind the lens.

The eyepiece lens then takes this focused light and magnifies it, where it then passes on an into your eyes.

Magnification

The diagram above shows us in principle how the image gets magnified:

Firstly the light travels from the subject and a real image A is produced by the objective lens. This image is then magnified by an eyepiece lens and is viewed as a virtual image B. The result is that magnified objects look as if they were in front of you and nearer than the subject.

6x, 7x, 8, 10x, or more.The amount the image gets magnified is determined by the ratio of the focal length of the objective lens divided by the focal length of the eyepiece lens.

So a magnification factor of 8, for example, will produce a virtual image that looks 8 times larger than the subject.

How much magnification you need depends on the intended use and it is often a mistake to assume that the higher the power, the better the binocular as higher magnifications also bring about many disadvantages. For more take a look at this article: Magnification, Stability, Field of View & Brightness

As you can also see in the diagram above, the virtual image is inverted. Below we will take a look at why this happens and how it gets rectified:

Upside-down Image

This is great and the story can end here if you are simply making a telescope for uses like astronomy.

In fact, you can quite easily make a simple telescope by taking two lenses and separating them with a closed tube. Indeed this is pretty much how the first ever telescope was created.

However, what you will notice when looking through it is that the image that you see will be turned upside-down and mirrored. This is because a convex lens causes the light to cross over as it converges.

Upside-down Image created when looking through the lens on a magnifying glass

In fact you can very easily demonstrate this if you hold a magnifying glass out at about arms length and look at some distant objects through it. You will see that the image will be upside-down and reverse mirrored.

For looking at distant stars, this is not really a problem and indeed many astronomy telescopes produce a non-rectified image, but for terrestrial uses, this is a problem. Luckily there are a few solutions:

Image Correction

For binoculars and most terrestrial telescopes (spotting scopes) there are two main ways of doing this, by using a concave lens for the eyepiece or an image erecting prisms:

Galilean Optical Design

Galilean Optics

Used in telescopes invented Galileo Galilei in the 17th Century, Galilean Optics use a convex objective lens in the normal way, but change this to a concave lens system for the eyepiece.

Also known as a diverging lens, the concave lens makes light rays spread apart (diverge). So if positioned at the correct distance from the convex objective lens, it can prevent the light from crossing over and thus stop the image from becoming inverted.

Keplerian Optics with Prisms

Unlike Galilean Optics that use a concave lens in the eyepiece, the Keplerian optical system uses convex lenses for the objectives as well as eyepiece lenses and is generally considered an improvement on Galileo’s design.

However the image still needs to be corrected and this achieved with the use of a prism:

Correct The Inverted ImageWorking like a mirror, most modern binoculars use erecting prisms that reflect the light and thus alter the orientation, correcting the image.

Whilst a standard mirror is perfect for looking at yourself in the morning, in a binocular it would be no good if the light was simply reflected 180° and back to where it came from as you would then never be able to see the image.

Porro Prism Binocular

Porro PrismsThis problem was first solved by using a pair of Porro prisms. Named after the Italian inventor Ignazio Porro, a single Porro prism, like a mirror also reflects light 180° and back in the direction it came from, but it does it parallel to the incident light and not directly along the same path.

So this really helps because it allows you to place two of these Porro prisms at right angles to each other, which in turn means you can then reflect the light so that it not only re-orients the inverted image but also effectively allows it to continue in the same direction and towards the eyepieces.

Indeed it is these two Porro prisms placed at right angles that give binoculars their traditional, iconic shape and which is why their eyepieces are closer together than the objective lenses.

Roof PrismsAs well as the Porro prism, there are a number of other designs that each have their own unique advantages.

Of these, the Schmidt-Pechan prism is most common because it allows manufacturers to produce a more compact, slimmer binocular with the eyepieces in-line with the objectives. The downside is that they require a number of special coatings to achieve total internal reflection and eliminate a phenomenon known as phase shifting.

Why Binoculars Are Shorter than Telescopes

The second benefit to using prisms is that because the light is reversed twice as it goes through the prism and so goes back on itself, the distance that it travels in that space is increased.

Therefore, the overall length of the binocular can be shortened as the required distance between the objective lenses and the eyepiece is also reduced and this is why binoculars are shorter than refracting telescopes with the same magnification as they lack a prism.

]]>https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/how-binoculars-work-04/Cheap, Lightweight & Compact Binoculars for Safari Holidayhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BinocularsNewsReviews/~3/Mg8LvF7dIsM/
https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/cheap-compact-binoculars-for-safari-holiday-04/#commentsMon, 08 Apr 2019 15:20:38 +0000http://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/?p=3498This question comes from someone looking for a good, yet cheap pair of lightweight, compact binoculars to take on a safari holiday: Question: We have planned a safari in Kenya for September and as a result, I’ve been trying to research some lightweight binoculars to take. I’ve read through some of your guides and reviews […]

Question:

We have planned a safari in Kenya for September and as a result, I’ve been trying to research some lightweight binoculars to take.

I’ve read through some of your guides and reviews and have to first say thank you for all of the valuable information as I’m a complete novice! I do have to admit though that I’m now a little daunted by the choice!

The trip is a bit of a once in the lifetime thing as it will be our honeymoon so I’m keen to get the choice right but as a once in a lifetime opportunity I’m working to a budget of around £125 – £175 (approx: $150 – $200) as there is a strong chance I won’t be using the binoculars a lot when I return to London!

Having read your safari guide I was hoping to find a suitable compact pair for the reasons you have outlined. Based on some of your review and my budget I was considering the Minox BV 8 or 10x25 BR which I’ve found for around £110.00, and you gave them a favourable review but I’m not sure how long ago that was and if you’d still recommend this pair of if there is something better you would recommend either compact or not within my price bracket?

Any assistance you could offer would be greatly appreciated, as I said before I’m a bit of a novice with no real clue!!

Answer

BudgetBecause you don’t think that you will be using your bins much after your trip (although urban birding is getting more and more popular and you could always take them with you to Richmond park to observe the deer for example), I think that the budget of about £125 – £175 (approx: $150 – $200) that you have set yourself is pretty good. I say this because it is enough to enable you to get a pretty decent device that will perform well on your trip, yet it is not so much to be too much of a waste of money once you return, should you never use them again.

Lightweight Compact BinocularsI also think that a compact pair is also a good idea for most casual users going on safari. Although as you will see below, I have also suggested a couple of inexpensive mid and full-sized bins as an alternative should you have a little extra space in your luggage, yet will perform just that little bit better.

Other than the Minox BV 10x25 Binoculars that you have already mentioned, below are my suggestions for you based on binoculars that I have actually used and that are within your budget.

Winner of the award for the Best Compact Binoculars 2019 these Steiner BluHorizons binoculars are for me a great choice as a low-cost binocular for a safari holiday for a number of reasons:

Double Hinge DesignFirstly the two hinges on the body mean that they can fold down into an incredibly small shape when not in use. For more, take a look at my article on the Best Compact Pocket Binoculars

Steiner AutoBright Optics The BluHorizons have a unique optical system which means they can automatically adjust the image brightness depending on the outside light conditions.

What this means is that they perform in a similar way as the photochromic lenses do on a pair of adaptive sunglasses and so let in less light in really bright conditions resulting in a more vibrant view with less glare under these conditions.

With a price tag of around $90 / £90, these low-cost compact and very lightweight Vanguard binoculars could be just what you are looking for and are well under budget as well!

Good quality BaK-4 roof prisms and multi-coated lenses are protected in a lightweight rubber coated, water and fog proof body that will easily handle whatever you throw at them on your safari. Their offset hinge is not only unique, but it enables you to fold it up into a nice compact shape that should fit into most people pockets, perfect for travel and walking safaris.

I thought that they easily outperformed their price tag and were as good as many compact binocular far more expensive than them, which is why I consider these to be great value for money.

These compact Levenhuk binoculars will set you back about $70 / £90, making them even cheaper than the Vanguard’s above, but still, come with a very surprising amount of good quality components and coatings.

Like the Vanguard Orros, this bin comes with BaK-4 roof prisms, but instead of only being multi-coated, the Levenhuk Energy PLUS is Fully multi-coated. This means that every glass surface through the whole optical system has got multiple coatings of anti-reflection material on them as opposed to just some on the Orros. The result is more light getting through the device and on to your eyes for a potentially brighter and better quality view.

The shell is covered in protective armour and is fully water and fog proof and at 378ft wide at a distance of 1000yds, it has one of the widest fields of view of any compact out there. This really wide FOV enables you to firstly more easily locate your intended target and then allows you to see more of what is happening at once without having to scan about. These are important attributes for many uses, but in a safari environment can really help to locate and track smaller faster moving critters.

Compact Steiner Binoculars

As a inexpensive compact bin, ideal for safaris, I would also seriously suggest that you take a look at the Steiner Safari and Wildlife binoculars, which I have been a fan of for many years.

Of these, my favourite choice would be the new Steiner Wildlife XP 10x26 Binoculars, but may just be a tad over your budget, but are very lightweight and ultra-compact considering the larger 26mm objectives. If so the also new Steiner Safari UltraSharp 10x26 is under budget and will still be more than fine for your holiday.

Pentax 9x28 DCF LV Binoculars

Costing around £200 ($200), these Pentax bins are just above your desired budget, but they come with a number of coatings and features that improve on cheaper compacts.

This includes fully multi-coated lenses that help to ensure as much light gets through the lenses and to your eyes as possible (rather than being reflected away).

They also have coatings on the prisms that ensure that after the light has passed through them, they are still in the correct color phase. These expensive phase-correction coatings help produce a sharper, better quality image and are only usually found on much more expensive bins.

Unlike many cheap compact binoculars, they are also fully fog and waterproof. On safari, this can help in case it rains, but also remember being fully sealed will prevent any dust from entering the chassis, which can be important in dry and dusty locations.

Mid-Sized Alternative: Kowa YF 8x30

To give you another option and if you have a little extra space in your suitcase, I would also take a look at the Mid-Sized, Porro prism Kowa YF 8x30 binoculars.

Currently, they cost less than £150 ($150) and so are within budget. Their slightly larger objective lenses and their Porro prism design make them a little larger than a true compact, but they also take in more light and so will in some cases (like poor light) perform just that little bit better.

]]>https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/cheap-compact-binoculars-for-safari-holiday-04/feed/2https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/cheap-compact-binoculars-for-safari-holiday-04/Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 Binoculars Reviewhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BinocularsNewsReviews/~3/AXmsLkljlss/
Sat, 06 Apr 2019 11:32:25 +0000https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/?p=5026Whilst the very similar Steiner Ranger Xtreme binoculars are marketed with hunting as the main focus, the Steiner SkyHawk positions itself as more of a general wildlife, nature loving and birding binocular. That being said, like the Ranger Xtreme, there is no real reason why you could not use the correct model within the SkyHawk […]

That being said, like the Ranger Xtreme, there is no real reason why you could not use the correct model within the SkyHawk series in a wide range of other uses:

In this guide, I will first review the main features on the Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 binoculars, discuss what changes and upgrades have been made from the SkyHawk 3.0 series and then review each of the four models taking a look at their main specifications to discover which uses and type of user they are ideally suited for.

Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 8x42 binoculars

Models

There are currently four models within the Steiner SkyHawke 4.0 series two mid-sized 32mm options and the standard 42mm versions in 8x and 10x magnifications:

Steiner SkyHawke = Steiner Peregrine in North AmericaBecause of how Steiner sees the different markets in Europe and North America, they do not officially sell these in the US and Canada (although you can sometimes find them) – Instead, the Steiner Peregrine binoculars are the equivalent/similar series to the SkyHawke.

Main Features

DesignSteiner SkyHawk 4.0 binoculars have a modern roof prism body design with a single bridge connecting the two barrels.

NBR-Longlife rubber ArmourDesigned to increase grip and add another layer of protection to the optics, these days you will struggle to find a binocular that does not have a rubber coating on the exterior surface, so nothing new here.

However, Steiner Optics have once again gone further than most of the competition:

The NBR (Nitrile butadiene rubber) that they use has more resistance to oil, fuel, and other chemicals tat can often get transfered to the instrument from your hands and which causes many alternatives to soften or perish over time.

Another important advantage in this application is that NBR rubber has a very good resistance to heat aging and thus does not harden or lose its damping capability like natural rubber does.

Makrolon HousingWhilst most manufacturers use polycarbonate plastic housings on their budget-friendly models and either aluminium or magnesium on their high-end models, Steiner buck the trend and use polycarbonate most of their instruments, even their top of the range ones like the Steiner HX 15x56 Binoculars for example.

However, the polycarbonate they use is a little special, known as Makrolon, it is made for them by the Bayer company and which has a number of properties that they believe makes it a better choice than magnesium:

It is lightweight, resistant to corrosion, resistant to high and low temperatures and is extremely strong. Indeed some models are able to take a force of 11 G’s and survive.

Nitrogen-Pressure-FillingThe two N2 markings on the top of the body indicate that the housing has been filled with Nitrogen gas. Here again, Steiner goes a little further than most of their competition with their 2-way-valve technology that replaces the air with the dry nitrogen gas and keeps it at a higher pressure. This means that not only are the optics better protected from fogging (Temp range: -20°C to +70°C) but should you need to, more can be added in the future.

EyeShields on the Steiner SkyHawke 4.0 Binoculars

Twist-up Eye-cups with EyeShieldsOn a good quality modern roof prism binocular, twist-up multi-position eye-cups are what you would expect, but what I really like are the SideShields that Steiner uses on just about all of their instruments.

To me it is incredible that more manufacturers don’t follow Steiner’s lead here as this small modification really does make a difference by blocking out any light entering from the sides which is both distracting and if it reflects off the ocular lens can affect the view.

Note: If you already have a pair of binoculars, but would like to have this feature, it is possible to add them to your existing eye-cups. Take a look at my review of the EyeShields by Field Optics Research.

Fast-Close-Focus System Essentially what this means is that Steiner uses a focus mechanism that is geared in such a way so that you require less turning of the focus wheel to go from one extreme to the other.

The advantage here is that you are able to lock onto your subject in less time, but as with most things there is also a downside. In this case, it, in theory, means that fine-tuning the focus may be a little more tricky.

Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 8x32 Binoculars

Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 8x32 Binoculars

Like the larger 8x42 SkyHawk below, these mid-sized Steiner binoculars are a great option for general use, wildlife observation and especially bird watching.

Size is ImportantThe smaller 32mm lenses result in a smaller, more lightweight instrument which also makes them easier to carry and pack away and thus an ideal choice for uses like travelling, hiking and camping.

Wide FOVAt 399 ft wide at a distance of 1000 yards (133m @1000m), these Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 8x32 Binoculars also have an extremely generous field of view. For uses like wildlife observation, hunting and in particular birding, this is important especially at closer range, making it easier to quickly place and keep fast moving things like birds in view.

Binoculars for SportsCombine this smaller easy to pack binocular with the very wide FOV and you have an ideal instrument to stash in daysack and take along to outdoor sporting events. Here the wide view lets you take in more of the on-field action without having to pan them about.

Close RangeWith a minimum focusing distance of only 2 meters, these also make a good option should for viewing things like butterflies outdoors and because they are so easy to carry in a bag, why not take them with you the next time you visit an art gallery or museum.

Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 10x32 Binoculars

As these have exactly the same chassis as the 8x32 model above, I won’t go over the advantages of the smaller size again, but where these two do differ is in the amount they magnify the image.

Higher MagnificationThe relatively powerful 10x magnification is ideal for longish ranges as it presents you with more image detail than what you will get with an 8x instrument.

Narrower Field of View (FOV)However, on the negative side, this more zoomed in view means that you get to see less of the bigger picture.

These Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 10x32 Binoculars have a FOV of 354ft @ 1000 yards (118m @ 1000m), which for 10x instrument is pretty good, but is less than which you get on the 8x version.

At long range this is not that important, but at closerdistance it can mean that you miss some of the action on the periphery.

32mm Diameter LensesThe relatively small lenses enable the more compact body, which is great for portability, but it does mean that they are less able to collect and let in light than larger lenses.

In good light, this is not an issue as they are able to supply your eyes with more than enough light for you to perceive a bright image.

Exit PupilIt is in very low light when the pupils in your eyes have dilated that 10x32 binoculars like these are not ideal. This is because they produce an exit pupil of only 3.2mm, whilst your pupils are likely to be up to 7mm in diameter and so would definitely benefit from larger cones of light exiting the eyepieces.

Ideal UsesSo to sum up, like most mid-sized binoculars, these are ideal for travel, safaris, camping and hiking types of uses, especially where you envisage using them to view things at longer distances and where the available light is good.

So if you know you are going on an adventure to a rain-forest like the Amazon where viewing distances are relatively short and the dense tree cover means light is not always good, opt for the 8x32 Steiner SkyHawke 4.0, but if you are on the coast or on the plains of Africa where distances are greater and there is plenty of light, this is the right choice.

Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 8x42 Binoculars

Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 8x32 Binoculars

These 8x42 SkyHawk 4.0 binoculars are the ideal all-rounders of the series and will work well in most situations, but are especially appealing to the birdwatcher:

Bright, High Quality ViewsTo start with, 42mm diameter lenses are large enough to capture a high level of the available light, even in overcast, twilight and other sub-optimal conditions, but not so large so as to make the binocular too unwieldy.

With the new SkyHawke 4.0, Steiner has also managed to significantly improve the optical performance by using their latest high-quality glass and unique coatings. This sees to it that as much of the captured light gets transmitted through the instrument and then onto your eyes.

Wide Field of View (FOV)Measuring 375ft wide at a distance of 1000yards (125m @1000m), the FOV is not quite as wide as that on the 8x32 version, but is is still ample.

This helps in a number of important ways, especially when birding: Firstly it allows you to more efficiently scan large areas to find your subject and then at close range it makes it much simpler to quickly get them in view. Lastly: in the case of fast moving things like birds, this characteristic aids you further by making it much easier to follow it and keep it within your field of view.

Very Good Close Focus DistanceThese Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 Binoculars 8x42 binoculars are also able to focus on an object at just 2 meters away. This is a very good and certainly adds to their versatility as it makes them a suitable instrument for the occasional study of things like butterflies, other insects and flowers from close range.

Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 10x42 Binoculars

Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 10x42 Binoculars

Ideal Uses & TerrainManufactured in Germany to a very high standard, these 10x42 Steiner SkyHawk 4.0 Binoculars are ideally suited to the longer distance birdwatcher, hunter, wildlife observer or nature enthusiast.

The ideal terrain would be wide open with a good level of light, so places like along the coast, a river front, in large fields or up in the hills.

Exit PupilDue to the size of the exit pupils created by the 10x42 configuration (4.2mm), the low light capabilities on these binoculars is good, but as good as which you get on the 8x42 model.

Field of View (FOV)At 354ft @ 1000 yards (118m @ 1000m), the field of view on these is reasonable for a 10x binocular, but falls short when compared to the 8x version, which is another indication that this model works best at longer distances and wide open spaces.

]]>https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/steiner-skyhawk-4-0-binoculars-04/Steiner Ranger Xtreme Binoculars Reviewhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BinocularsNewsReviews/~3/ssAi2dkp-As/
Wed, 03 Apr 2019 09:14:02 +0000https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/?p=4975Steiner Optics position and market the Ranger Xtreme in Europe as high performance, mid-price range hunting binoculars (eg: view this article on the Best Hunting Binoculars for Under $600), but after taking a look at their features and specifications, I have to say that there is also no reason why any of the Steiner Ranger […]

Steiner Optics position and market the Ranger Xtreme in Europe as high performance, mid-price range hunting binoculars (eg: view this article on the Best Hunting Binoculars for Under $600), but after taking a look at their features and specifications, I have to say that there is also no reason why any of the Steiner Ranger Xtreme binoculars would not also make a great option in a wide range of other uses including most general outdoor sporting activities like wildlife observation, birding and depending on the model, travel, safaris and for watching outdoor sporting events.

Not available in the USA?Due to differences in the US and European markets, Steiner does not offer the Ranger Xtreme in the USA (although it is possible to find them if you look hard enough). However, they do have the HX series. Whilst, not an exact clone of the Ranger Xtreme, it is close, with many similar features and a few different configurations -> Steiner HX Binoculars.

In this mini review, we will go over what I believe are their main highlights, weaknesses, features and specifications. We will also briefly review each model within the Ranger Xtreme series and see if they do indeed offer a good price to performance ratio and which models you should choose for your specific needs.

Steiner Ranger Xtreme 8x32 Binoculars

Models

Steiner Ranger Xtreme Binoculars are currently available in a mid-sized 8x32 version that really caught my eyes, two full-sized models (8x42 and 10x42) as well as a large 8x56 model. All binoculars within the series use roof prisms.

Exterior Features

Makrolon HousingThe chassis on these mid-range instruments are made from Steiner’s extremely tough Makrolon polycarbonate which is the same material that they use on their high-end instruments. It is lightweight and can famously survive large impacts.

Water & FogproofAs you would expect at this level, these chassis is fully sealed making it waterproof and then nitrogen gas is used to prevent the internal lenses from fogging.

NBR-Longlife Rubber ArmourMost of the outer surface is covered in Steiner’s NBR-Longlife rubber armouring which once again is also used on the high-end instruments.

This special rubber adds a further layer of protection to the optics and is also more resistant to the hardening and perishing caused by the sun as well as the oils and acids that often get transferred onto your binoculars via your hands.

Fast-Close-Focus System Steiner has opted to use a high geared focus mechanism on these instruments. Marketed as their “Fast-Close-Focus System” it means that the focus wheel requires fewer turns to go from one extreme to the other and as such ensure you are able to focus onto your subject more quickly.

The downside to this is that it in theory makes fine tuning the focus a little more difficult.

Side Shield EyecupsAnother excellent feature on these Ranger Xtreme binoculars and which Steiner use on may of their instruments are the shields on the sides of the twist-up eyecups. Made from a soft, but hard-wearing silicone, they are not only comfortable, but they also block out light and any distractions from the periphery of your view. I really like this as it not only enables you to better focus on your subject, but it helps maintain a better view no matter what direction the light is coming from.

Optical Features

Produced InhouseThe optics (lenses and roof prisms) on these Steiner binoculars are produced in Germany in their own facility. Steiner sources their optical glass from Hoya in Japan and Schott in Germany, both of which are considered to make the finest available. For more on how they make their binoculars take a look at my Factory Tour article: BBR Visits Steiner

Steiner Factory – Binocular Assembly

Steiner High-Contrast-OpticsAs for the coatings, the optics system is fully multi-coated with Steiner’s High-Contrast-Optics that they say provides “bright, brilliant views, accurate colour and clear images with high contour sharpness”, but no further details are supplied.

Steiner Ranger Xtreme 8x32 Binoculars

Steiner Ranger Xtreme 8x32 Binoculars

In my opinion, a real highlight within this series is the 8x32 Ranger Xtreme:

For hunting, this is certainly an important feature making it easier to scan areas looking for wildlife, but a wide FOV is also highly cherished for general nature and wildlife uses and in particular bird watching. This is because it enables the user to more rapidly get the bird in view and makes it much easier to follow them at closer ranges.

Ideal Travel, Safaris & Outdoor Sports BinocularsTheir more compact shape and this wife FOV mean that as well as for lightweight hunting, these make great binoculars to take on most travel adventures, including birding holidays and safaris (especially for those who also appreciate birding).

Another excellent use for them would be to take them along to most outdoor sporting events like football, cricket, golf and horse racing. Once again the size makes them easy to store in your daysack and the wide view means you can take in more of the action without having to pan the view about and so get a fuller picture of what is going on and ensuring that you never miss out on any critical off the ball plays.

Steiner Ranger Xtreme 8x56 Binoculars

On the opposite end of the spectrum to the mid-sized, easy to carry 8x32 model above are the fairly large 8x56 Steiner Ranger Xtreme Binoculars.

Here the emphasis is not on portability, but rather on low light performance and offering the user high-quality views even in very poor light conditions.

Here larger 56mm lenses are used because, just like the larger windows in your house, they are able to collect and let in more light than smaller ones. This, working in combination with Steiner’s fully multi-coated, High-Contrast Optical system means that more light gets to your eyes for you to percieve a brighter image.

Ideal UsesThese main characteristics make them an ideal option of the hunter, wildlife observer or birder operating from a more static position like a hide or even your front porch and who often is out before dawn or just after sunset, or indeed if you are positioned in a thick forest or woodland where good available light is an issue.

Bino HarnessHowever these really are not that much larger than the standard 42mm options and by using a good binocular harness they can most certainly be carried very comfortabl over long distances even whilst carrying other gear like a rifle, bow or camera.

For hunters, this can be especially important and I recommend taking a look at my guide to the Best Binocular Harness for Hunting that includes a number of options capable of accepting larger sized instruments.

Steiner Ranger Xtreme 10x42 Binoculars

Steiner Ranger Xtreme 10x42 Binoculars

The 10x42 Steiner Ranger Xtreme binocular is most likely going to be the model that most hunters opt for because most people assume a higher power must be better…

This can be the case, but Not always because unless you are specifically viewing wildlife or hunting (or indeed birding) over longer distances and wide open spaces, the 8x42 will be a better option for most users:

Field of ViewIt is true that by increasing the power you get a greater image detail at longer ranges, but at the same time, you reduce the field of view which is also really important. and it must be said that at (108m @ 1000m / 324ft @1000 yards), the FOV on this 10x42 Ranger Xtreme is reasonable for a 10x instrument, but nothing special.

Exit Pupil & Low Light AbilityAnother downside to the higher power is that it reduces the size of the exit pupils, which in turn makes for an instrument that is less capable in low light, which for many users who follow wildlife at its most active (at dawn or approaching sunset), this is important.

Ideal ApplicationsSo if you take these main characteristics into consideration, I would recommend that these 10x42 Steiner Ranger Xtreme binoculars are best for the hunter, wildlife observer or birder who is largely working at longer distances and in open spaces where there is plenty of light. So open fields, plains or at the coast are good examples.

Steiner Ranger Xtreme 8x42 Binoculars

These 8x42 Steiner Ranger Xtreme Binoculars are the most versitle and probably the best all-rounders withion the series.

The 8x magnification is able to achieve a good level of image detail at short to mid ranges, but at the same time is not too powerful so as to reduce the field of view or exit pupil by too much.

Adding to this are the reasonably large 42mm lenses that are able to gather a good amount of light, but at the same time are not so large as to make the instrument difficult to pack away or carry over long periods of time or distances.

Field of ViewAt 375ft wide at 1000 yards (125m @ 1000m), the view that you take in whilst looking these binoculars is pretty good which is great for scanning wide open areas at longer ranges but is most important at close range where it makes it easier to quickly lock onto your subject and then follow it. In the case of things like fast-moving wildlife and birds, this is an extremely important attribute.

Excellent Close Focus These Steiner Ranger Xtreme 8x42 binoculars can also focus on an object at just 1.9 meters away. For a full-sized binocular this is excellent and certainly adds to their versatility as it allows you to observe things like butterflies or flowers from very close range.

Ideal UsesAs well as hunting, these make an excellent choice as a general use instrument and a good birdwatching binocular.

Latest Prices & Where to Buy

Whilst not marketed in the US, you can still find them on some online retailers where they will set you back between $400 and $600 depending on the model. In the UK they currently cost around £350 and £500, whilst in Europe, prices range between €530 and €760:

]]>https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/steiner-ranger-xtreme-binoculars-04/New Leupold BX-2 Alpine Binoculars Launchedhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BinocularsNewsReviews/~3/7ESG0U-WqC0/
Thu, 14 Mar 2019 09:03:51 +0000https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/?p=4956Available in 8x42, 10x42, 10x52, and 12x52 configurations, Leupold & Stevens, Inc., have just released their new mid-level (rrp: $299.99 and $379.99) BX-2 Alpine binoculars onto the market. Best in Class?Zach Bird, the Product Line Manager for Leupold & Stevens says that they have been designed to compete with the very best binoculars in their […]

Available in 8x42, 10x42, 10x52, and 12x52 configurations, Leupold & Stevens, Inc., have just released their new mid-level (rrp: $299.99 and $379.99) BX-2 Alpine binoculars onto the market.

Best in Class?Zach Bird, the Product Line Manager for Leupold & Stevens says that they have been designed to compete with the very best binoculars in their class and that “With it, you’re getting a combination of excellent optical performance and rugged reliability that its competitors can’t match.”

Competitive Mid Level Price RangeThere is no doubt that these will Leopold BX-2 Alpine binoculars have their work cut out as the mid-level class ($130 – $300) is certainly the most competitive.

With a Recommended retail price set at between $299.99 and $379.99 (depending on the model), but already listed for between $229.99 and $289.99 on some online retailers, they look to be well priced but do they have the required components and features to compete? Let’s take a look:

Main Components & Features

Body:

Modern Top Hinge Body Design

Magnesium Alloy Chassis

Waterproof & Fogproof (Nitrogen Filled)

Large Diameter Focus Wheel & Eyepiece Lenses

Tripod Adaptable

Rubberized “EXO” Armoring

Optics:

“Twilight Max HD Light Management System” (see more below)

Scratch-resistant, Aquaphopic DiamonCoat2 exterior Lens Coating

Other

Lifetime Guarantee

Official Highlights Video

Main Model Specifications

Model

Power

Obj. Dia. (mm)

FOV @ 1,000 yds. (ft.)

Length (in.)

Weight (oz.)

Eye Relief

176969

8x

42

394

6.2

28

18.3 mm

176971

10x

42

367

6.2

28

15 mm

176973

10x

52

304

6.6

31.5

19.3 mm

176975

12x

52

272

6.6

32.1

16.6 mm

Twilight Max HD Light Management System

Leupold makes a huge point of the fact that their new BX-2 Alpine instruments feature their Twilight Max HD Light Management System that is also used in their VX-3i and VX-3i LRP riflescopes, but what does this mean?

The idea is that the optical system is specifically designed to allow you to see more detail in low light and are optimized for use under these conditions.

So whilst many binoculars can perform well in bright conditions, in many cases, they will then perform poorly in lowlight.

For many hunters and birders, low light performance is critical as this is when your subjects are most active and thus this is when you need your optics to be performing at their bet.

In the video below, Leupold gives a very long-winded explanation (56 minutes!) on their Twilight Max HD Light Management System but to be honest it does not go into great detail as to the exact coatings used. As a side note, they also take a look at their other new binoculars, the BX-5 Santiam HD (@ 32 minutes).

Whatever the specifics, Leupold says that their Twilight Max technology “can add up to 20 minutes or more observation time during low-light conditions”. It is also said to remove up to 85% more stray light that causes glare than their main competitors within this class.

Error in the VideoOne thing I would like to add is that at around 51 minutes on the video above the guys at Leupold explain how the roof prisms magnify the image!

This is completely incorrect, it is the eyepiece lenses that do this, the prisms actually correct the upsidedown image and put it back the right way up after it gets inverted by the objective lenses.

]]>https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/new-leupold-bx-2-alpine-binoculars-launched-03/Factory Tour: BBR Visits Steinerhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BinocularsNewsReviews/~3/ldHYF-iBGZM/
Fri, 08 Mar 2019 09:13:09 +0000https://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/blog/?p=4911Did You Know?Since it’s inception in 1947, every single Steiner binocular has been manufactured in the Steiner facility located in Bayreuth, Germany? This is in stark contrast to many sports optics brands that now outsource some or in some cases all of their production to cheaper facilities in far-flung areas of the world where the […]

]]>Did You Know?Since it’s inception in 1947, every single Steiner binocular has been manufactured in the Steiner facility located in Bayreuth, Germany? This is in stark contrast to many sports optics brands that now outsource some or in some cases all of their production to cheaper facilities in far-flung areas of the world where the cost of labour is less expensive.

They say you never forget your first, well, in terms of binoculars, my introduction was a pair of 10x26 Wildlife compacts from Steiner Optics which I purchased in 2006 mainly for use on walking safaris.

Back then there was very little information on the web and certainly no independent reviews or expert opinions on the subject of binoculars. Thus the difficult process of selecting the right instrument for my needs and at my budget really stuck with me and eventually became one of the main reasons I eventually developed the BestBinocularsReviews.com website after finishing my stint working as a safari guide in South Africa.

BBR’s Steiner Factory Visit

So for me, being invited to visit the Steiner headquarters in Bayreuth was a little special as I knew that my first pair of binoculars that I purchased and used all those years ago was made at this exact location and so to now to have the opportunity to tour the factory and gain an insight into how it was actually made almost felt as if I had come full circle and was now somehow closing the loop.

Aim

In this article, I hope to give you a flavour of my experience and time at Steiner. I feel that what I learnt, my impressions and takeaways are well worth sharing as I am sure like me, they will give you a deeper appreciation of not only Steiner’s products but binoculars in general and what is involved in their production.

History Lesson

Binoculars & BasketballAfter the relatively short drive north from Nuremberg airport, we arrived in Bayreuth, the home of the Medi Bayreuth professional basketball team and the location of Steiner Optics Headquarters. Indeed I was to later learn whilst watching them play in the Oberfrankenhalle against a team from Lithuania that Steiner has a long-standing affiliation with basketball and were the title sponsors of the team from 1988 to 89 when it was known as Steiner Bayreuth.

Watching the Medi Bayreuth professional basketball team playing at the the Oberfrankenhalle

Anyway, I digress…

Back to Binoculars:

After the introductions, we headed to the boardroom where we went over a presentation that covered the main aspects of Steiner, their products, history and the many innovations that they have brought to the world of binoculars and optics in general and below are a few of the main points:

Part of the Baretta group of companies, Steiner has been operational for over 70 years and currently has around 150 employees.

They specialize in the production and development of binoculars, laser rangefinders, rifle scopes and progressive coating technologies which includes the grinding and polishing of premium level lenses and prisms.

MarketsWhilst Germany is their strongest single market, they have sales in more than 80 countries with an export quota of over 80%.

SegmentsSteiner produces sports optics for the general outdoor enthusiast as well as marine binoculars and binoculars specifically for hunting. They also have a very strong military and law enforcement heritage and currently, about 30% of their production is for military purposes.

Milestones:

1947 – Steiner was started by Karl Steiner who learned his trade at Zeiss Optics

1967 – Steiner started using high-tech Makrolon material for housings

1973 – First binocular with Nitrogen filling (N2)

1979 – Developed the first binocular with an integrated compass

1988 – New coating technology with Laser-Protection-Filter developed

1992 – Development of high-contrast optic

2000 – Achieved the highest light transmission levels in the industry with the Night Hunter. An Incredible 96% across the whole visible light spectrum.

Museum

From there we moved onto the small museum that they have within their facility. This contains a selection of their most important instruments dating right back to their first pairs as well as many other binoculars of interest.

Here I found an example of my very first pair of Steiner Wildlife binoculars and it also included a very early pair of marine binoculars as well as their range of binoculars designed for the police and which are not available to the public.

Steiner Museum: Police Binoculars

Another item of interest that caught my eye was a pair of Steiner military binoculars that was recovered from an American tank that had been blown around the time of the first Gulf war. As you can see from the photo below, the housing has been seriously damaged, but incredibly the optics still function very well.

Steiner Museum: Damaged Military Binoculars

Production

From the museum, we moved onto the actual factory where I was given a full tour of the entire production line.

Shaping & Polishing the Glass

Steiner only sources the highest quality optical glass for the lenses and the prisms that comes from either Hoya in Japan or Schott in Germany. Both of which are considered to make the very best glass available.

Steiner Factory: Unpolished vs Polished Lenses

Before my visit, I assumed that the glass would have arrived perfectly shaped and polished, but instead, Steiner prefers to do it themselves.

For me, this was one of the most impressive aspects to the whole tour as it is very time-consuming and requires a large number of very specialist diamond cutting, grinding and polishing machines in series that take the opaque raw glass and firstly get it into the perfect shape and then finally polishes it until what they are left with is the final, extremely high-quality lens element or prism.

Each step along the way is finer and more exacting and the lenses and prisms are quality checked at each step to ensure that they are perfect.

Steiner Quality Control: Lenses

Steiner Factory: Prisms ready for Polishing

Steiner Factory: Prisms ready for Polishing

Steiner Factory: Grinding & Polishing Prisms

What I also found interesting is that this part of the factory is also something of a museum in itself as Steiner has decided to keep some of the machines. Some are actually still in use where less precision is needed:

Steiner Factory: Vintage Steiner Lens Grinding Machine

Whilst others have now simply on display as they have been replaced with more modern versions, but are still kept within the factory in a kind of homage to a more simple, less electronic age.

My thoughts turned to the fact that every single Steiner binocular ever produced went through this factory and their optics were produced by these exact machines!

Optical Coatings

After going through another series of quality control checks, special optical coatings are then added to the lenses and prisms.

For this part of the tour, we entered the clean room area of the factory and as such had to wear special clothing that included wearing hair nets, shoe covers and special jackets.

Steiner Coatings section in their Factory

The exact makeup and the number of coatings added to each binocular varies depending on the model and type of prism, but in most cases, it includes anti-reflection coatings on all exterior lens surfaces, mirror coatings on roof prisms and other speciality coatings like the super tough, aquaphobic Nano protection coatings that were developed by Steiner 2006 and which are applied to the exterior lens surfaces on some models like the Steiner Nighthunter 8x56 binoculars that I recently reviewed.

Nano-Protection CoatingsThe main aquaphobic property of these Nano-protection coatings was demonstrated to me by simply pouring water onto the lenses of one of their Nighthunter 8x56 binoculars and it was interesting to note how you could see that it was almost repelled by the glass and that it simply rolled off leaving no droplets behind. This offers a number of advantages, including a better viewing experience in wet weather and making sure no watermarks are left behind which means less cleaning of the lenses is necessary.

The exact makeup of all these coatings is Steiner’s secret sauce and exactly what they use and how it is done is a closely guarded secret and was one area of the factory that I was able to view, but was asked by the guys not to take photos of certain areas.

Adding Lens Coatings at the Steiner Factory

Assembly

Further quality checks follow the coating process and then the lenses and prisms are transported to the part of the factory where they are united with the chassis and the rest of the interior and exterior components are fitted as well.

Steiner Factory – Binocular Assembly

Here, depending on the models, the housings are also sealed and then pressure filled with Nitrogen gas.

Steiner Factory – Binocular Assembly

Throughout this process further quality controls are carried out.

Assembling and quality control checking binoculars in the Steiner Factory

More Quality Control Checks & Testing

After assembly, each binocular is once again quality control checked that includes testing the integrity of the airtight seals for the pressure-filled nitrogen chassis to make sure that it is 100% water and fogproof.

Optical TestsThe optics are also checked and tested in a number of ways using a wide variety of instruments to check for perfect alignment, function and the levels of light transmission.

Steiner Quality Control: Light Transmission Testing

Extreme Conditions TestingA selection of the binoculars are also selected to be tested in a wide range of more extreme areas. This includes subjecting them to very high temperatures and extreme cold by placing them in special ovens and freezers for set periods of time.

Steiner Factory Testing: Heat Oven

Then they also have other testing facilities that put their instruments under extremely high atmospheric pressures as well as large g-forces and weights to ensure the integrity of the sealed housings as well as the structural strength of the instrument as a whole.

Steiner Factory Tests: High Atmospheric Pressure Testing

Recoil TestAnother check that their rifle scopes have to go through is a very violent recoil test machine:

Steiner Factory: Recoil Testing Machine

Main Takeaways

Apart from a few small elements like the original unfinished glass and some of the accessories such as the carry bags and neck straps, every single Steiner binocular, even the less expensive ones are completely manufactured in-house in their factory in Germany. In this day and age, this is impressive.

Whilst there is some automation, I noticed that Steiner still employs a large number of people and much of the assembly and almost all of the quality checks are carried out by highly skilled workers, many of which have been employed by Steiner for many years. What is more, you certainly feel that there is a close-knit, almost family type atmosphere as you go around the factory which is great to see.

Steiner Quality Control: Prisms

The amount of quality testing and the level to which the binoculars have to perform under the most extreme conditions is very impressive. I wondered why it was necessary to subject their binoculars to such extreme conditions that most of us will never experience and I was reminded that as well as the ‘ordinary’ user, some Steiner binoculars are used by a very diverse range of users including arctic explorers, search and rescue teams and the military.

Steiner Quality Control: Internal Pressure Testing

I think if I had to sum up the binoculars made by Steiner, it is not only the quality of components they use that is important but just how much expertise, work and attention to detail that they put into each and every instrument. In fact, there are actually 450 separate steps in the production line and this is what certainly sets a high-quality pair of binoculars like theirs apart from the less expensive, mass-produced alternatives.

I hope that this has been of use. For me, it was an excellent experience and a fantastic insight which has gave me a much deeper understanding as to how binoculars are produced.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone at Steiner for the opportunity, for answering all my questions and for their great hospitality.